The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has launched detailed studies on the potential failure of 11 dams on four islands.

A day after the state's independent investigator released his report on the Kaloko Reservoir failure, the Corps of Engineers said it has contracted with four engineering firms, Oceanit Laboratories, SSFM International, PB Americas Inc. and Tetra Tech Inc., to look into dams that are of concern.

"These studies involve evaluating various hydrologic and dam failure scenarios, and hydraulic analysis that will result in maps of the downstream areas that will be adversely affected," said corps senior project engineer Derek Chow, in a press release.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye obtained special funding for the studies in the wake of the Kaloko failure, which destroyed a century-old plantation dam and killed seven people downstream.

"These studies will provide key recommendations to help the state and counties better understand and mitigate against the potential hazards caused by any dam failure," Inouye said.

At Kaloko, Kaua'i Civil Defense director Mark Marshall said there may still be as much as 100 million gallons of water in the reservoir, but almost all of it is below the level of the the original dam, which was breached by the March 14, 2006, failure. He said his office has been assured that the reservoir is not capable of creating another catastrophic flood.

"I've been told that it is safe," he said.

Chow said the corps report on the dam failure concluded that "the small pool left doesn't pose a danger."

And the remaining water in the reservoir continues to be used to supply irrigation water to roughly 20 small farms in the Waiakalua area, most of which grow organic vegetables.

The 11 dams being studied are Nu'uanu Dam No. 4 and Wahiawa Dam on O'ahu; Twin, Waita, 'Elua, Aepo, Pu'u Lua, Halamanu Field 21 and Upper Kapahi reservoirs on Kaua'i; Kualapu'u Reservoir on Moloka'i; and Reservoir 24 on Maui. The studies are to be complete by the end of 2007.

The dams were picked by the state's Dam Safety Office as being potential problems because of urban development downstream from them — not because of their construction, age or condition, Chow said. The results of the corps consultant testing will be used by the state Dam Safety Office and dam owners to prepare emergency action plans.

"We look forward to partnering with the Army Corps of Engineers in this project as the results will greatly assist us in our efforts to ensure public safety as well as provide additional technical assistance to the dam owners," said Edwin Matsuda of the state Dam Safety Program.

The corps said that Inouye requested emergency relief funds for dam studies after viewing the destruction caused by Kaloko's failure. The fiscal year 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation Act included $2 million for the studies.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.